Infinity, The Arcade Age

Qin Ming assigned all five free attribute points to Strength to compensate for his lack of offensive power.

His enhancement route was clear: Strength as the primary attribute, with secondary attributes to follow later. Once Strength reached the Stage I limit of 20, he would consider fortifying other stats.

Having upgraded both his skills and attributes, Qin Ming looked at the assortment of equipment laid out on the table, his brows knitting in frustration.

He picked up his trusty revolver—a weapon that had accompanied him through countless battles. A pained expression settled on his face.

Though the revolver had proven invaluable against minor enemies, its summoned minions were increasingly ineffective against bosses. The weapon was approaching obsolescence.

Now, Qin Ming faced a dilemma: should he risk upgrading it?

Upgrading carried significant risks. A successful evolution into a golden weapon could transform it into a game-changer, but if it merely boosted existing stats, it would become a liability.

The revolver's fixed attack power clashed with his Sonic Hand Slash skill, and relying on its elite minions would be a waste of resources.

He sighed, rubbing his forehead. This weapon had once been his ace—his stepping stone to success. Even if he chose not to upgrade it, he couldn't bear to discard it.

Finally, Qin Ming made up his mind. He would take the risk and upgrade it. If nothing else, it was a tribute to his journey thus far.

Qin Ming began by fusing the longbow and flail, combining their properties. He then placed the resulting item next to the revolver.

As brilliant light engulfed the items, their forms intertwined. When the light faded, a dazzling golden revolver rested on the table.

A system notification chimed in his ears:

"Ding! Detected quality transformation of equipment for Adventurer 441985. Please select an evolution path."

Path 1: Sacrifice special effects to enhance attack power.

Path 2: Sacrifice attack power to enhance special effects.

The unexpected choice caught Qin Ming off guard. After a moment's thought, he made his decision.

"Option two!"

The revolver's form shifted immediately. The barrel shortened, and the weapon shrank to a palm-sized compact model. What was once a large-caliber revolver now resembled a pocket-sized toy.

Name: Hyena's Fang

Type: Weapon (Dim Gold Plotline)

Effect 1: Fixed Attack Power: 10–15

Effect 2: Call of the Hyena (Summons a Hyena member to fight. Summoning target: Unspecified.)

Description: "This is the fang of Hyena, the adventurer. Its sharpness depends on the user's capability."

(Note: The firearm has not completed its final upgrade. Please fuse it with the head of a plotline character to complete its transformation.)

Instead of enhancing the revolver's stats, the upgrade had resulted in significant downgrades. The additional requirement of a "plotline character's head" left Qin Ming thoroughly stunned.

"Plotline character's head?" he muttered. Wasn't that a rare consumable with an abysmal drop rate? He had heard that such items could grant a portion of the original owner's main attributes, with higher-quality heads offering greater benefits, including skills.

Items like this were precious to low-level adventurers who would never sell them. Where was Qin Ming supposed to find one now?

Looking at the miniaturized revolver in his hand, Qin Ming's face fell. Had he ruined his weapon?

Before he could wallow in disappointment, a knock came at his door.

"Ding! Adventurer 400631 requests entry. Do you accept?"

The number startled Qin Ming. Recognizing it, he quickly allowed the visitor inside.

The familiar figure of the Double-Gun Woman entered, her eyes scanning the room.

"Wow, not a lick of decoration. Original and raw, huh?"

"Does its condition matter? It's a place to sleep. You got the money?" Qin Ming asked flatly.

"Of course, I brought it. And I brought this as well."

With a grin, she plopped onto his bed and pulled out a scroll.

Taking the scroll, Qin Ming examined its properties, his brows twitching slightly.

Name: 2P Entry Pass

Type: Consumable (Blue)

Effect: Designate an adventurer and form a temporary contract, allowing them to join your world as an ally. The contract lasts for one world, reducing damage between the two parties by 90%.

Description: "Insert coin for co-op! Player Two has entered!"

Qin Ming couldn't help but marvel at the unique item.

"You sure have a knack for finding treasures, huh? Even something like this!"

"This isn't copied; I paid for it. Cost me a fortune, too." The Double-Gun Woman laughed, flicking the scroll with her fingers.

"Sign it," she urged. "I've already written the terms. 10,000 points as the hiring fee, another 10,000 upon mission completion, and you get to pick one item first from the spoils. The rest, we split."

"No problem."

After verifying the contract's contents, Qin Ming activated the scroll, formally forming a team with her.

With the agreement sealed, Qin Ming turned his attention back to his pocket revolver. After a pause, he asked, "Let me ask you something. Know where I can get a plotline character's head?"

"A plotline character's head? What for? You lacking attributes or something?"

"More or less. Got any leads in the low-level adventurer zone?"

"Rarely, very rarely. Most adventurers here are broke and weak. If they find one, they use it themselves. Why would they sell?"

"Fair point."

"But," she added, leaning back with a sly grin, "I know a squad that trades gear. They might have one. Want me to connect you?"

(End of Chapter)